Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell turned heads during his pre-game media conference yesterday when he said that he is not going to get caught up in the Atlantic Division playoff race.

Which isn't to say that he's throwing in the towel. Mitchell believes agonizing over every game the Atlantic Division competition plays from now until the end of the season will only distract is squad.

"We've blown too many games already and we can't afford to blow anymore," Mitchell said. "(But) we just got to go play. Right now, I'm not trying to worry about the wins or losses, I'm just trying to worry about how we play. And that means moving the basketball, playing better defensively, and trying to pick up rebounds.

"Our guys can't look at the standings, they can't look at the race, they just have to go play the game," he added. "We just have to go out and play, and then with 10 games to go, see what happens. And with five games to go, if we're close, then you starting looking at things."

BOSH GETTING ATTENTION

Mitchell acknowledged that as Chris Bosh's improved play garners more and more attention around the league, he's going to get a lot more attention on the court, meaning that teams will double and even triple team him. And the coach said they only thing he can do is work through it.

"He's 20 years old, it takes time to understand that there are different ways teams are going to trap you. He hasn't seen them all yet," Mitchell said.

"Last year, he was the fourth option on the team.

Chris is the one or two option on this team this year and he's had some big games and teams are coming after him. So you have to get used to seeing those double teams. You have to get used to knowing, are they coming on the pass? Or are they coming on the dribble? Are they going to come when I spin?" Mitchell added. "There's a lot of different ways you can come at a guy, and he has to learn what teams are doing to him. And you have to figure it out on the fly once they do it to you once or twice."